PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ewgenju Scorfna (ranked 633 p4p, 4317 weight class) and Sergey Bakarow (ranked 88 p4p, 491 weight class). Ewgenju Scorfna has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Scorfna
vs
Bakarow

179 cm
31
179
8 - 2 - 0

187 cm
25
185
3 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

30th Century Beer Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ewgenju Scorfna!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sergey Bakarow!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Wagner Zegers and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bakarow lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Ewgenju Scorfna has been cut.
Bakarow's coach down at DF Fitnesscentrum was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Bakarow's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Scorfna stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bakarow.
Scorfna fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bakarow scores with a jab to the jaw.
Bakarow connects with a single shot there.
Scorfna shoots for a takedown but Bakarow saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bakarow fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bakarow scores with a nice body kick.
Bakarow displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Scorfna.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ewgenju Scorfna. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Scorfna avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bakarow drives through with a takedown into guard.
Scorfna is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bakarow wants to stand but Scorfna is controlling his posture from full guard.
Bakarow stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Scorfna swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bakarow trying to stand up but can't free himself from Scorfna's guard.
Scorfna keeping full guard, as Bakarow tries to pass.
Bakarow's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Scorfna working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bakarow doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bakarow manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bakarow stays in close to Scorfna's body and controls the position.
Scorfna seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scorfna keeping moving, preventing Bakarow from controlling successfully.

Scorfna escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bakarow gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bakarow postures up.
Bakarow looking to pass the guard.
Scorfna tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bakarow content to stall in guard here.
Scorfna pulls Bakarow in close to his closed guard and prevents Bakarow from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakarow slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Scorfna trying to control the position.
Bakarow slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bakarow lands with a thumping leg kick.
Bakarow misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bakarow lands a slapping body shot.

Bakarow bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Scorfna holding on.

Bakarow decides to stand up, so the ref orders Scorfna to his feet.
Scorfna misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bakarow tries for a takedown but Scorfna sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Bakarow shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Scorfna is trying to defend but Bakarow finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Scorfna looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Bakarow dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ewgenju Scorfna's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Scorfna gets tackled into the cage by Bakarow. Bakarow maintains the clinch.
Scorfna has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bakarow is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Bakarow escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bakarow has a takedown stuffed.
Bakarow lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Bakarow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bakarow gets the takedown into side control.
Scorfna is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Scorfna's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scorfna prevents Bakarow from moving into mount.
Scorfna being controlled for a moment.
Bakarow trying to control the action but Scorfna is working from the bottom.
Scorfna is trying to get back to half guard.
Bakarow trying to control the position but Scorfna is working away.
Bakarow has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Scorfna can't do much from the bottom here.
Bakarow scoring with punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bakarow taking a breather here.
Bakarow is looking to take a break and control but Scorfna is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Scorfna struggling a bit here.
Bakarow taking a breather here.
Bakarow tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Bakarow controls the position.
Bakarow working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Scorfna is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scorfna struggling a bit here.
Scorfna manages to work his way to half guard, despite Bakarow's best efforts.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bakarow in particular looking to stall.

Scorfna is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bakarow pulls his head out easily.
Bakarow is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Bakarow is working for a submission of some sort.
Bakarow is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Scorfna trying to hold on to Bakarow's head to control him but Bakarow postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bakarow wants to take a breather but Scorfna is having none of it.

Bakarow stands up out of the half guard.
Sergey Bakarow seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bakarow tries to close the distance and clinch up but Scorfna swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Scorfna tries to counter with a takedown but Bakarow is quick to defend against it.
Crunch! Bakarow slams his shin into Scorfna's torso.
Bakarow turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Scorfna tries to keep at a distance but Bakarow has taken the fight into the clinch.

Scorfna gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bakarow gets full guard.
Bakarow is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Bakarow can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Scorfna controls the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Bakarow showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ewgenju Scorfna's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Bakarow moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bakarow leaves Scorfna with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Scorfna takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Bakarow closes the distance and pushes Scorfna back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scorfna looking for a takedown.

Bakarow breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Bakarow forces Scorfna back against the cage and clinches.
Scorfna is trying to drag Bakarow to the mat but Bakarow just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ewgenju Scorfna. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Scorfna is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bakarow pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bakarow manages to break the clinch.
Bakarow stalks Scorfna and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Scorfna's face. Scorfna staggers backwards, shaken.

Bakarow throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Scorfna was covering up waiting for the punch and Bakarow finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Bakarow pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Scorfna is keeping the position for now.
Scorfna is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Scorfna keeping moving, preventing Bakarow from controlling successfully.
Bakarow is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bakarow wants to control from the top but Scorfna keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakarow works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Bakarow wants to take a breather but Scorfna is having none of it.
Bakarow is looking to advance position but Scorfna won't allow it.
Scorfna is looking to control Bakarow's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Scorfna avoid being mounted?
Bakarow looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Bakarow tries to stand but can't do so whilst Scorfna controls his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scorfna keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Scorfna wants to improve his position but Bakarow is controlling well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bakarow in particular looking to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ewgenju Scorfna has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Scorfna on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Scorfna shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bakarow but Bakarow pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Scorfna on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Bakarow takes the fight into the clinch.
Bakarow using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Bakarow landing knees to the head.
Sergey Bakarow is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Bakarow manages to break the clinch.
Bakarow displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Bakarow changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bakarow tries a head kick but it misses.
Bakarow throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bakarow throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Bakarow comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bakarow has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 26:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 26:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergey Bakarow!